UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mary J. Kennett, director of the Animal Resource Program at Penn State, has announced that she will retire from the University on Sept. 30.
Kennett, who joined Penn State in 2001, also is a professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences, a member of the University Research Council, and a member of numerous professional associations. She is an active researcher in the fields of veterinary medicine, animal pathology, interpreting rodent histology, and the development of animal models.
In addition to managing the care of animals and related facilities in 12 University laboratories, Kennett advises the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee on national, state and local compliance issues, and manages 30 staff members and four veterinarians. The Animal Resource Program's operations also include the Eva J. Pell Laboratory for Advanced Biological Research, a level-three biological containment lab that opened in 2014. The program supports more than 20 departments, five colleges and approximately 500 research faculty at Penn State.
“Mary has worked quietly and tirelessly for the safety and comfort of our animals, which are an absolutely essential part of the research enterprise, not only for conducting life-saving biological research, but for training the next generation of students,” said Penn State Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey. “I can’t overemphasize the complexities of running an animal care operation of this size, and we are grateful for her 18 years of service and expertise.”
Kennett, a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, received her bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from Washington State University, her doctor of veterinary medicine from Washington State University, and her doctorate in pathology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She also holds a master’s degree in biology from Walla Walla College, and she completed her residency training in comparative medicine at the University of Columbia.
Penn State will conduct a national search for a new director.